Trailer trash - towing behind a Fazer

[Hedgetrimmer]

How's that going to be when it's all loaded up - or is that how you tried it?

That's empty.

That's also going at a top speed of 50mph.

Oo er, go careful when you do test it loaded matey! How's it going to react to an emergency stop, or even fairly hard braking?

[ChristoT]

How's that going to be when it's all loaded up - or is that how you tried it?

That's empty.

That's also going at a top speed of 50mph.

Oo er, go careful when you do test it loaded matey! How's it going to react to an emergency stop, or even fairly hard braking?

I don't intend to find out!! 

Actually, it feels pretty stable. Everything just takes longer.

[locksmith]

Cant wait till he tries filtering

[ChristoT]

Cant wait till he tries filtering

Challenge accepted. 

[Hedgetrimmer]

   I can't watch this....

[ChristoT]

One air filter!

Details Trailer ''filtering''

Trailer ''filtering''

Told ya I could filter on a trailer!! 

[Hedgetrimmer]

You need a topbox as well?!! Do you do quotes for a house removals service? 

[ChristoT]

You need a topbox as well?!! Do you do quotes for a house removals service? 

Special rates for Foccers!! 

I'm bringing stuff back to France from the UK for friends as well as all my clobber - so far, I've been asked for bacon, sausages, 60L of paint, and maybe half a Ford Escort. 

[Hedgetrimmer]

You mean you can't buy any of those in France? Do they know ze var ist ofer, und rationing ist finished? 

[ChristoT]

You mean you can't buy any of those in France? Do they know ze var ist ofer, und rationing ist finished? 

The French don't sell bacon - they're very insular in their food. And English bangers taste different.

As for the paint, it needs to be Wickes'. And the French don't do 2nd hand or car bodging the weay we Brits do. 

[red98]

some good work here CHRISTO well done for seeing it through......please be carefull though,take plenty of time loading the thing...balance and load, as you know is very important 

[ChristoT]

some good work here CHRISTO well done for seeing it through......please be carefull though,take plenty of time loading the thing...balance and load, as you know is very important 

Drive it like you were a lorry! 

But yes. I may be insane as to amount I load my bike, but I'm paranoid about the load. Always stop an hour into a trip to ensure the baggage has settled well - and I remember on one occasion, I had to pull off sharpish as I'd noticed the rain cover on a pannier had nearly fallen off!! 

[ChristoT]

DaleH also tows behind a 600. In fact, I tried to copy his rack to a certain degree! 

<img src="http://foc-u.co.uk/MGalleryItem.php?id=1126" alt="" />

<img src="http://foc-u.co.uk/MGalleryItem.php?id=1129" alt="" />

[slimwilly]

Does it go "beep beep beep beep " when you are reversing ?

[red98]

no brakes on the trailer then christo ?...

[mr self destruct]

Been following this thread with interest and think you're a genius! 

It's galvanised steel - but lousy galvanising, has a few rust spots. Quite light, I'd say 40 / 50kg dry weight.


The trailer needs a few mods:


- Shorter tow bar (hitch to trailer body)

Couple of points though, I don't know what European law is like but are you aware of the UK laws? Max weight 150kg or 2/3 the kerb weight of the bike, but if its more than half I think it needs brakes.
https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-motorcycle


Also, max distance between the rear axle and the end of the trailer is 2.5m.


With this in mind I'd try to get it as close to 2.5m as possible, because that will minimise the angle the hitch moves through for a given change in height (i.e. bumps etc.). Think basic trigonometry. 

[red98]

good points there MSD    .....theres a lot of unknows here so could i suggest lots of cautious test rides loaded/unloaded before the big trip .....good luck CHRISTO 

[red98]

Hope your mate can weld, both members will suffer fatigue due to the dynamix forces of tension and compression on each piece when accelerating and decelerating. Could try a further brace but you loose the flexability. You've said its heavy duty so good job then .

Close up pics on mount locations and have you tried it out yet?

iam sure iam not the only one on here who dos`nt know what "dynamix forces of tension" is.....is it the stretching and shrinkage of the steel when under load ?

[red98]

Yeah, two members will be being pulled under acceleration, the other members will be being compressed. Then the opposite on each under deceleration.

ahhhh....cheers FIZZY,easy when you know 

[ChristoT]

Been following this thread with interest and think you're a genius! 

It's galvanised steel - but lousy galvanising, has a few rust spots. Quite light, I'd say 40 / 50kg dry weight.


The trailer needs a few mods:


- Shorter tow bar (hitch to trailer body)

Couple of points though, I don't know what European law is like but are you aware of the UK laws? Max weight 150kg or 2/3 the kerb weight of the bike, but if its more than half I think it needs brakes.
https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-motorcycle


Also, max distance between the rear axle and the end of the trailer is 2.5m.


With this in mind I'd try to get it as close to 2.5m as possible, because that will minimise the angle the hitch moves through for a given change in height (i.e. bumps etc.). Think basic trigonometry. 

It's about 2 metres now - and it's very hard to judge corners, as it sticks out so far behind me. The hitch will move more when shorter, but should make cornering a bit tighter. Again, many, many test rides are required!

Slimwilly - no - but it should!! 

Red - it's unbraked, which is why I am so cautious with it on the back!

Fizzy - that's the reason I'm out with the trailer as much as I can - trying to familiarise myself with the handling as much as I can, and to inspect the welds! If they're too weak, I want to know BEFORE I'm halfway round the M25!

I'm getting there! 

[fireblake]

I had the pleasure of seeing Chris and the behemoth on Sunday and i must say it all looks pretty good. Not something i would want to ride (or be seen dead with) but all the best to you Chris. And i'll look forward to hearing all about your epic journey. Take care young chatty nemisis.


Mickey

[ChristoT]

I had the pleasure of seeing Chris and the behemoth on Sunday and i must say it all looks pretty good. Not something i would want to ride (or be seen dead with) but all the best to you Chris. And i'll look forward to hearing all about your epic journey. Take care young chatty nemisis.


Mickey

Thanks, Mickey! I'm sure you'll come round to it... 

News update:

- NOT shortening the drawbar (can still tow behind car now)
- Not turning the lid round
- Trailer now black
- Numberplate and wiring all tidied up

Shock news - we were tidying up the trailer, and looking for the kerbside weight plate, we made a startling discovery. My trailer is a classic! 

The plate we found showed it was a VW trailer - built in 1963! With the shape of the trailer and the high suspension, we suspect it may be ex-German army! 

[Pat]

I had to lug a couple of 2.5l tins of Farrow & Ball paint over to France in my panniers for the GF last month, cost me £30 a tin to buy it here in the UK,  costs €80 a tin over there! 

Out of interest, what difference does using a trailer make to your insurance?

[ChristoT]

I had to lug a couple of 2.5l tins of Farrow & Ball paint over to France in my panniers for the GF last month, cost me £30 a tin to buy it here in the UK,  costs €80 a tin over there! 

Out of interest, what difference does using a trailer make to your insurance?

Amateur! I'm lugging 3 10L containers of Wickes paint for a friend! 

The trailer = nowt extra! The trailer and contents are only covered by 3rd party, but that's good enough for me! 

[fireblake]

I must admit I was thinking Kubelwagon when I saw it?